Sam Huff started it all, calling out some of the state's top high school players back in April - those who decided to skip the North-South All-Star Football Classic.

Huff, the former West Virginia University great and NFL Hall of Famer, took exception to the missing in action - most notably Parkersburg lineman Josh Jenkins, Scott running back Jordan Roberts and Parkersburg running back Matt Lindamood. All are bound for WVU.

"It's a big mistake,'' Huff said at the time. "What are you afraid of?''

Huff didn't need to call out Marquel Ali, though. The Woodrow Wilson flash, who's also walking on at WVU, is ready and raring to play in Saturday's 55th North-South game, even though his last game didn't go too well.

Ali suffered a knee injury that required surgery during a season-ending loss to Spring Valley. That cost him the first half of his senior season in track, but he rebounded to repeat as the Class AAA state 100-meter dash champion last month.

Even though he's just been through a major injury, Ali jumped at chance to play in the North-South contest. Unlike others who declined an invitation, the 5-foot-10, 194-pounder didn't feel it was risky.

"I don't consider it that way,'' Ali said during a break between workouts on the West Virginia State University campus in Institute.

"Playing in a football game, yeah, you could get hurt, but you've got the same odds as getting in a car and getting in an accident. You can't worry about getting injured. You've just got to play the game, the game that you love. Because if everybody was scared to get injured, then nobody would be playing the game.''

Some of the no-shows said they had nothing to gain by playing in the North-South game, and didn't want to fall behind in their budding Mountaineer careers.

Ali's approach was different. He did have something to prove. To himself and to detractors.

Some like to point out that Ali played few meaningful games at Woodrow Wilson. The Flying Eagles reenergized their program in 2005, going 9-1 and locking up the No. 4 playoff seed. Ali, however, played a secondary role on that squad as a sophomore. He was more productive his next two seasons, but Woodrow turned in records of 1-9 and 4-6.

"A lot of people say that me not playing in a big game, I never got a chance to prove myself or anything,'' Ali said.

Sam Huff started it all, calling out some of the state's top high school players back in April - those who decided to skip the North-South All-Star Football Classic.

Huff, the former West Virginia University great and NFL Hall of Famer, took exception to the missing in action - most notably Parkersburg lineman Josh Jenkins, Scott running back Jordan Roberts and Parkersburg running back Matt Lindamood. All are bound for WVU.

"It's a big mistake,'' Huff said at the time. "What are you afraid of?''

Huff didn't need to call out Marquel Ali, though. The Woodrow Wilson flash, who's also walking on at WVU, is ready and raring to play in Saturday's 55th North-South game, even though his last game didn't go too well.

Ali suffered a knee injury that required surgery during a season-ending loss to Spring Valley. That cost him the first half of his senior season in track, but he rebounded to repeat as the Class AAA state 100-meter dash champion last month.

Even though he's just been through a major injury, Ali jumped at chance to play in the North-South contest. Unlike others who declined an invitation, the 5-foot-10, 194-pounder didn't feel it was risky.

"I don't consider it that way,'' Ali said during a break between workouts on the West Virginia State University campus in Institute.

"Playing in a football game, yeah, you could get hurt, but you've got the same odds as getting in a car and getting in an accident. You can't worry about getting injured. You've just got to play the game, the game that you love. Because if everybody was scared to get injured, then nobody would be playing the game.''

Some of the no-shows said they had nothing to gain by playing in the North-South game, and didn't want to fall behind in their budding Mountaineer careers.

Ali's approach was different. He did have something to prove. To himself and to detractors.

Some like to point out that Ali played few meaningful games at Woodrow Wilson. The Flying Eagles reenergized their program in 2005, going 9-1 and locking up the No. 4 playoff seed. Ali, however, played a secondary role on that squad as a sophomore. He was more productive his next two seasons, but Woodrow turned in records of 1-9 and 4-6.

"A lot of people say that me not playing in a big game, I never got a chance to prove myself or anything,'' Ali said.

"I feel like I've got to prove myself, [so] I'm trying to help my game get better being around great athletes and playing in a great game. It's a great game for our state and for my hometown of Beckley. I'm representing my town of Beckley, so I feel real great about being here. I thank everybody for inviting me here. I'm going to play. When I got injured, people thought I would never be the same, so I'm trying to prove I'm not hurt and back to being the way I am.''

When at his best, Ali can be a devastating weapon in the open field. With his sprinter's speed (10.62 seconds in the 100), he can turn a small opening into a huge gain.

As a senior, Ali was dangerous no matter the play - running, receiving or returning kicks. He ran for 1,193 yards and 13 touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 331 yards and three scores. He also brought back a kickoff (84 yards) and punt (70 yards) for TDs.

In a 43-24 loss to playoff-bound Hurricane, Ali was all over the field. He scored every one of his team's points on runs of 69 and 16 yards, a reception of 50 yards and the 70-yard punt runback.

Ali could return kicks Saturday, but faces a lot of competition from a South roster stocked with speedy backs and receivers.

"He's one of many that we'll put back there,'' said South coach Steve Stoffel Sr. of Herbert Hoover. "We haven't determined all of those [spots] yet. We've got a few kids who can catch and run the ball. We know Marquel. He's a class act as a sprinter, and a very good one.''

Ali sure wouldn't mind popping a big play on a run or a return Saturday.

"It'd feel very good,'' he said, "just being back there on the field and just breaking one, considering the last game I played in, I got hurt. It'd be real great for that to happen.''

In a way, Ali could be the poster child for this year's game, which has garnered perhaps just as much attention for the players not here as for those who are. Some didn't want to risk injury; he wants to surmount his.

"I'd tell everybody if [an injury] happens, you've just got to work hard and don't let it get you down,'' Ali said. "It made me that much stronger.''

Reach Rick Ryan at 348-5175

or rickr...@wvgazette.com.